Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ Pre-Release Genesis 2 is the Winner 
Stacked against California Giants, Bordeaux-Style Red Blends and Chardonnay are Judges’ Favorites

SAUTEE, Ga., (January 18, 2011) - The tabulations tell all: Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ Genesis 2 – a unique Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec ‑ was the judges’ pick at a cloaked wine tasting at the vineyards’ tasting room on Saturday, January 15, 2011. The Georgia vineyards’ red blend was the toast of the evening. 

From an elite selection of 10 panelists, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s wine columnist Gil Kulers and freelance wine journalist Jane Garvey, Yonah Mountain Vineyard’s Genesis 2 scored higher than Jordan Winery’s 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon –one of the most popular wines on restaurant lists in the country. The vineyards’ 2006 Genesis was among the most popular wines of the evening, as was the vineyards’ offerings of Chardonnay – all placed higher in popularity than the California wines in their categories. 

Noted wine experts, including Harry Constantinescu, wine director of the St. Regis, Atlanta, helped evaluate three wines in a closed event from renowned California wineries Jordan Winery, Darioush Winery, Ghost Horse Vineyards and Kistler Vineyards against this Georgia newcomer’s two vintages of three wines. The results were exciting and surprising, as Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ proved to be David to the California Goliaths, placing Georgia’s fledgling wine industry in a well-deserved spot light. 

“There really is no loser here,” said Michael Bryan, executive director of the Atlanta Wine School, and the director of the event, which used the University of California at Davis 20-point system to evaluate the wines. “This really proves that Yonah is producing world-class wines, and that Georgia is in range of recognition as a serious wine-producing state.” Bryan likened the event to Georgia’s own Bottle Shock moment, referring to the movie about the now famous 1976 “Judgment of Paris” tasting where California wines were pitted against French and won, cementing California’s place in world wine making.

Judges and panelists sipped from elegant Riedel stemware in the Yonah Mountain Vineyard tasting room as they evaluated whites and reds, pitting North Georgia’s burgeoning young wine industry against a few of California’s most noted vineyards:

· Serenity Cellars’ (a Yonah Mountain Vineyard signature cellar) 2008 Viognier ($20), Serenity Cellars 2009 Viognier ($20) and Darioush Vineyard’s 2008 signature Viognier ($45)

· Yonah Mountain Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay ($28), Yonah Mountain Vineyards 2009 Chardonnay (pre-release), and Kistler Vineyards’ Dutton Ranch 2008 cult Chardonnay ($90) 

· Yonah Mountain Vineyards 2006 Genesis ($36), Yonah Mountain Vineyards Genesis 2 (pre-release), Jordan 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($52) and Ghost Horse Vineyards 2000 cult Cabernet ($250)

Yonah Mountain Vineyards tasting room, located at 2454-B Highway 17, Sautee, Ga., and is open to the public in winter Fridays noon to 5 p.m., Saturdays noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 to 5 p.m. For more information and directions, call the tasting room at 706.878.5522 or visit the Yonah Mountain Vineyards website, www.yonahmountainvineyards.com.